ALTAR FLOWERS : Flowers are not allowed during the season of lent. If you are interested in donating fresh flowers for the altar after lent, call the church office at 445-7141 ext 214. Flowers are $75 for both arrangements.

ALTAR SANCTUARY LAMPS were provided in memory of W.C. Johnson, Jr., by Gary and Carol Johnson; and John and Margaret Wiencek and the Daw family by Bertha Vallery. If you are interested in having a loved one remembered by providing the sanctuary lamps, call the church office at 445-7141 ext 214. Cost is $7.50 per candle.

OUR OFFERTORY GIFTS Regular Collection Average expenses for week $ 21,552.76 Gifts for the week of February 11 $ 25,511.48 Over for the week of February 11 $ 3,958.72 BLDG/Maintenance Fund February $ 4,568.33

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

The waters of Baptism make us part of the new covenant in Christ. But the bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship reminds us that “there is a fundamental obligation arising from the sacrament of baptism, that people place their gifts, their resources, their selves at God’s service in and through the Church.”

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AND THE CONSOLATION OF THEIR FAMILIES: Carolyn Verzwyvelt

MORNING PRAYER weekday mornings 7:45 in church.WAY OF THE CROSS Fridays during Lent, 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM in church.

LENTEN WEEKDAY COLLECTION As is our tradition, we will take a collection at the 8:00 AM weekday Masses throughout Lent for two important charities. The monies collected will be split equally between Catholic Relief Services, specifically to aid those who continue to be affected in Puerto Rico; and the CENLA Pregnancy Center, a new Pro-Life crisis pregnancy ministry for women and children in Alexandria. Please be generous!

BLACK AND INDIAN MISSION COLLECTION: This collection exists to help diocesan communities to build the Church and preach the Gospel of Jesus among the African American, Native American and Alaska Native people of God. It supports parish life and catechesis, evangelization, Catholic education and vocations in Black and Indian Missions across the United States. You may use your envelope in your monthly packet or a pew envelope clearly marked and drop it in the collection basket. Please be generous!!

Notes from the Pastor....

We welcome Brian Butler and Greg Boudreaux of Dumb Ox Ministries to conduct our Parish Mission “Given Up For You.” They will present a program of speaking, music and prayer to help us dive deeper into the Paschal Mystery: Christ’s free, total, faithful, and fruitful gift of Himself. We will reflect on how we, too, are called to the fullness of life through making the gift of ourselves in His image.

The Mission will be conducted this Monday - Wednesday, February 19 - 21, from 6:30 - 8:00 PM nightly, in the Church. Our Parish Penance Service for Lent is scheduled for Thursday, February 22 at 6:30 PM; the Mission will be a wonderful way to prepare to receive this sacrament. Several priests will be avialable for individual confessions.

Please join us and take advantage of these wonderful Lenten opportunities! –Fr. Scott

ALMSGIVING “Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins” (Sirach 3:29). And, Jesus said, “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Matthew 6:3-4). In this Lenten season there will be several appeals made to you for “alms.” Such giving is above and beyond a tithe. Options are presented so that your heart will be moved by that one program or thing which you feel you wish to support. This then is an important spiritual tool for your Lenten journey and not “fund-raising.”

CHURCH TODAY COLLECTION: This collection is for our diocesan newspaper -- the Church Today. Every month, this 24-page newspaper is mailed FREE to every Catholic household in the diocese. All donations to this special collection go directly to the Church Today to help defray the cost of printing and mailing. If you, or someone you know, would like to receive the Church Today FREE each month, call 318- 445-6424, ext 255 to request it.

EASTER FLOWER FUND: Remember your loved ones by donating to the Easter flower fund. A list of the donors and names of those to be remembered will be published the Sunday after Easter. Easter flowers are $15; make checks payable to St. Rita Altar and Rosary Society. This fund is used to cover the cost of decorating the church beginning Palm Sunday through Pentecost Sunday. Any excess funds are used for altar flowers during the year. You may use the Easter Flower Offering envelope in your monthly packet or an Easter Flower envelope located in the hymnal racks in the pews and drop it in the collection basket. – Altar and Rosary Society

GIRL SCOUT TROOP 225 COOKIE DELIVERY next weekend after all Masses. All pre-orders will be ready for pickup in the church foyer. For more information, call Amy Yarbrough at 318-542-9386.

BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN to benefit the Cenla Pregnancy Center. George Hardy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Pregnancy Center will be with us this weekend to tell us about their ministry and how you can support it by taking a baby bottle to fill with donations. (Bottles are to be returned the following week to Mass, or if after to the Pregnancy Center.) Please be generous! – Fr. Scott